There are several amateur pipelines annually well-represented during the Stanley Cup Finals.

Products of Canadian juniors, the collegiate ranks, and European leagues have advanced to the pinnacle of professional hockey, with 58 players on the combined rosters of Washington and Vegas emerging from numerous teenage-hockey avenues. 

Representing five of those nearly 60 players are members of the Minnesota high school hockey fraternity, and three of those five competed for Class A programs. 

With Class A routinely dismissed by single-class purists across the state, having three players from one specific class from a single state competing for the Stanley Cup is a testament to the strength of the coaching a development among Class A programs. 

Nate Schmidt of the Golden Knights suited up for St. Cloud Cathedral, while T.J. Oshie and Matt Niskanen of the Capitals played for Warroad and Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl respectively. Both Oshie and Niskanen took their teams to the Class A State Tournament, with Oshie’s squads capturing championships in 2003 and 2005.

Rounding out the Minnesota crop of players are Chaska native Shane Gersich and Edina’s Travis Boyd. Gersich advanced from Holy Family Catholic to the USHL and the NTDP after his sophomore season with the fire, while Boyd jumped from Hopkins High School to the NTDP’s U-17 team. 

Schmidt, Oshie, and Niskanen are three of nine players in the NHL that skated for Class A schools, with the list rounded out by David Backes (Spring Lake Park), Zane McIntyre (Thief River Falls), Justin Faulk and Alex Stalock (both South St. Paul), Brock Nelson (Warroad), Blake Wheeler (Breck), and Tucker Poolman (East Grand Forks).